Inclement Weather, Recess, and School Activities
Keeping our staff and students safe is our top priority!
As the weather in Colorado can change significantly from hour to hour, a decision to hold outdoor activities, or suspend them, may change throughout the day and could also change multiple times. Temperature alone is not the deciding factor when it comes to making the decision to hold outdoor activities such as recess or an outside class. Other factors such as winds, precipitation, and severe weather are taken into consideration as well.
School leadership reserves the right to alter calls as needed, and relies on personnel who are outdoors to make the best call for students at the moment.
Purpose: To provide guidance on making decisions for outdoor activities based on unsafe weather conditions. Physical activity is proven beneficial for children in their ability to focus in the classroom. This plan is designed to assist in determining the safest opportunities for outdoor activities.
Response: As the weather in Colorado can change significantly from hour to hour, a decision to hold outdoor activities, or suspend them, may change throughout the day and could also change multiple times. This plan is intended to assist staff in making choices regarding the safety of outdoor activities. Temperature alone is not the deciding factor when it comes to making the decision to hold outdoor activities such as recess or an outside class. Other factors such as wind, precipitation, and severe weather are taken into consideration as well.
Cold Weather: Temperature alone is not a determining factor. For a short duration such as recess, properly clothed students can endure sub-freezing temperatures for significant periods of time well in excess of our recess schedules. Wind Chill is a better determining factor when considering temperature as a limiting factor. Outdoor activities will cease when the Wind Chill is 15 degrees or below.
Hot Weather: Temperature alone is not a determining factor. The heat index should be factored in when determining whether outdoor activities are appropriate. As the heat index increases so do health risks. Students should bring water bottles to outdoor activities.
Any request from a parent to have their child excluded from outdoor activities due to extreme weather conditions, poor air quality, or high pollen counts will be honored. Outdoor activities will cease when the temperature or heat index is 100 degrees or higher.
High Winds: Regardless of temperature, high winds can pose a safety concern on their own, including blowing sand and debris, which can cause significant injury. Outdoor activities will be ceased when sustained winds are in excess of 25 mph, or when wind gusts exceed 40 mph.
Precipitation: Precipitation can also significantly amplify the effects of temperature. Additionally, wet students returning inside the building create safety issues with wet floors and equipment. Outdoor activities will cease when active precipitation is occurring.
Severe Weather: Lightning is one of the most unpredictable and deadliest weather phenomena. An approaching storm can produce lightning from any edge, or the center of the storm. As a general rule, lightning is one mile away for every five seconds that elapses between seeing the lightning flash and hearing the thunder. If it seems close, play it safe and have students come in quickly. Activities can recommence after 30 minutes of last lightning strike.
Outdoor activities will be ceased when lighting is within 5 miles of the campus or a Tornado Warning has been issued for Longmont, Niwot, and/or Northeast Boulder County. Activities can recommence after 30 minutes of last lightning strike. Tornadoes can be common in Colorado and there is no need to justify the safety implication.